Void’s Forbidden Morals is a haunted thrash symphony, where Louisiana’s swamps whisper ancient metal secrets through every razor-sharp riff.
Rising from the haunted swamplands of Lafayette, Louisiana, Void unleashes their second full-length, Forbidden Morals, on August 29, 2025, via Shadow Kingdom Records. Formed in 2021, the band, bolstered by their 2023 debut Horrors of Reality and singles like Return of the Phantom, delivers a 46-minute spiral into a vampiric, medieval nightmare. With rich, crushing production, the album fuses sharp thrash metal with eerie atmospherics, evoking candle-lit corridors and blood-soaked rituals, drawing from early Metallica, Mercyful Fate, and Annihilator, while carving a bold new path.
The journey begins with the ominous “A Curse”, setting a dark tone before “Forbidden Morals” and “Gateways of Stone” releases technical riffs and soaring solos. “Judas Cradle”, the track that first made me pay attention to this band, while “Nine Blood Moons” adds a brisk, intense burst. The romantic guitar interlude “Valeria” bridges the halves seamlessly, leading into “Apparition” and the classic power ballad “By Silver Light”. Then “Return of the Phantom”, which is my headbanging favorite, shines with stellar vocals and guitar work, reprising its chilling single form. The band also crafted an excellent music video that makes this song stand out even more in their catalog. The epic “Beneath… Lives the Impaler” closes with a 10-minute song.
At 46 minutes, Forbidden Morals is a nostalgic yet modern thrash triumph, echoing Annihilator’s Alice in Hell with its theatrical flair and powerful vocals. Stumbling upon “Judas Cradle” via a band post led me to their discography, a rare detail for a young act. After numerous listens, the album remains inviting, fun, and potent, cementing Void as influencers in metal’s dark corridors. I look forward to seeing them perform live in South Florida.
Rating: 9.0/10
Key Tracks: “Return of the Phantom” and “By Silver Light“
For Fans of: (early) Metallica, Mercyful Fate, Annihilator, Toxik
Buy it and Stream it: skrlabelvoid.bandcamp.com/album/forbidden-morals
Follow: @void_lafayette
